'Shut out of history': Why have Cricket West Indies urged ICC to reconsider 2028 LA Olympics qualification process?

Cricket West Indies has appealed to the International Cricket Council to establish a qualification pathway for Caribbean nations to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where cricket will return after a 128-year absence with a six-team T20 tournament for both men and women.The qualification process for the LA Olympics remains unannounced by the ICC, raising concerns for West Indies cricket.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The issue stems from the unique structure of West Indies cricket, where nations like Barbados, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Trinidad and Tobago compete as a unified team in international cricket but participate separately in the Olympics.This structure could potentially exclude Caribbean involvement if Olympic qualification is determined by world rankings alone."All we are asking is that our individual nations' exceptional Olympic legacy be considered in the conversation," said CWI chief executive Chris Dehring. "Our nations have proudly flown their individual flags atop Olympic podiums as perennial gold medallists. Now, with cricket's inclusion, we must ensure that our cricketers are not shut out of history. We are ready to collaborate. We are ready to compete. But above all, we are asking for fairness."CWI acknowledges that fielding a unified West Indies team at LA 2028 is unlikely, despite their past successes as T20 world champions in 2012 and 2016, with their women's team also securing the global title in 2016.In their letter to the ICC, CWI proposed two potential solutions for regional representation.The first proposal suggests an inter-Caribbean qualifying tournament if the West Indies teams secure a qualifying position.The second proposal recommends a dedicated regional qualifying process for all independent West Indies nations."The Caribbean has always punched above its weight at the Olympics, inspiring the world with our athletic brilliance," said CWI president Kishore Shallow. "Cricket's return to the Games in 2028 must not exclude our young cricketers from the same dream that has inspired our athletes."